Transverse conveyer



S. SHAFER, JR

TRANSVERSE CONVEYER 2 sheet s-fiheet 1 Filed Aug. 9, 1927 Jar 1.28, 1930.

-Filed Aug. 9, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 glwvenkoa Patented Jan. 28, 1930' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v SAMUEL SHAFER, JB., OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T CHAIN BELT COM- PANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, 'A CORPORATION 01 WISCONSIN rnansvnnsn oouvnnin Application filed August 9, 1927. Serial No. 211,794.

This invention relates to transfer chain conveyers ran ed rollers that constitute the receiving sur aces for the material to be handled.

a Transfer conveyors are largely used in mills,

of improvements in chains and the links of the chains employed in conveyers of this of connected links,

character, as will be. herein set forth.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a section of one form of a chain embodying my invention.

Big. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line TIL-J11 of Fig. 2.

Fig. at is a side view of a link of a chain and transversely over the conveyer, from one embodying my invention and of a construction, somewhat diflerent from that shown in any of the views thus far described.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a chain link embodying the invention, of still another con struction.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line VI-VI of -Flg. 5.

- A transverse conveyer embodying my in vention will usually consist of a plurality of parallel moving chains, each chain being made up of a series of pintle-connected links. These links may be of widely varying construction according to the nature of the work required of the conveyer. The chain shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 ismade up of pintle-connected links certain of which are provided with longitudinal rollers. Such links are represented as having the side bars 2, 2 connected by tubular end bars 3, which lie between the free and separated ends of the side bars of adjacent connected links. Successive links of the chain are united by plintles 4 that pass through perforations in t e separated ends of the side bars and the tubular end bars in a well known manner, and as represented in the drawings.

tending across the link from side bar to side bar and rising therefrom and from the in considerable quantities and wouldtend to provided with longitudinally artubular end bar 3 is a bridge piece or upright support 5. The free or separated ends of the side bars are extended to form arms 6 beyond the pintle o enings in the side bars, these arms rising a ove and overlying the side bars of the next adjacent link, and being connected by an upri ht cross or brid e piece 7, A shaft 8 exten ing longitudinally of the chain, and disposed centrally between its opposite sides, is supported in the upper portions of the pieces 5 and 7, and on such shaft is mounted a free-turning roller 9. This roller, as is clearly represented in Figs. 1 and 2, is somewhat longer than the chain link, and extends over or across one of its joints of connection. This gives a comparatively long roller to serve as a support for an article that is transferred by the chain. It

will be understood that an article, such as a piece of lumber or a bar of metal, is run upon side or the other, while the conveyer is in movement, the rollers 9, since they constitute the bases on which the article rests while on the conveyer, preventing undue friction as the articles are being received.

'A chain such as described may be composed of alternate longitudinal roller-carrying links such as have been described and intermediate links 14 which do not carry rollers.

This produces a conveyer carrying longitudinally arranged rollers that are materially longer than the individual links that support them in a chain made up of short links; in other words, the pitch length of the chain is materially less than the length of the roller, zvhich is afeature of great practical advanage. r

In Fig. 4 is represented a link having some of the characteristics of the link shown in Figs. 1 and 3, but difl'ering therefrom in that it is formed With'a fiat to 10 below {hekroller and between the side bars of the in r In Figs. 5 and 6 I show a link difiering from that shown in Fig. 4, in that the closed top 10 is dispensed with, leaving an open space below the roller 9. This is desirable where loose material, such as the saw dust, is

till

accumulate between the roller and the top .10. In this form of chain the side bars of the link are extended upwardly and inclined toward the periphery of the roller 9, as best represented in Fig. 6. These extensions 13 of the side bars not only prevent material passing beneath the rollers, but also serve as guides to so direct the ends of the material that may be assed to the conveyer that they may move easily on to the exposed upper portion of the roller. The inclined extensions 13 of the side bars also serve to brace the transverse supports for the roller shafts, materially strengthening them.

What I claim is:

1. A conveyer chain certain of the links of which carry longitudinally arranged rollers that are materially longer than the individual links that carry them, the ends of which rollers overhang certain of the pivotal connections of the links.

2. A link for a'conveying chain provided with upwardly extending supports near its ends, the support at one end being beyond the pivotal connection of the link, a longitudinaly disposed shaft mounted in said supports,

' and a roller supported on the shaft, the roller beinglonger than the link that carries it and extending at one end over a pivotal connection of the link.

3. A pintle-connected link for a conveyer chain having side bars, a support extending upwardly from the link and uniting the op posite side bars at one end, arms extending rom the side bars beyond the pivotal connection at the end of the link opposite that carrying the aforesaid support, another support carried by and uniting the said arms near their ends, a longitudinalshaft mounted in the said supports and a roller supported on the shaft, the roller extending over the pivotal connection of the link at the end carrying the aforesaid arms.

4. A link for a conveyer chain formed of pivotally connected links, having side bars, cross supports extending upwardly from'the side bars, and uniting them, such supports being arranged respectively near the opposite ends of the link, the support near one end of the link being extended beyond the line of the pivotal connection of the link with another link at that end inwardly inclined extensions from the upper portions of the side bars united with the cross supports and bracing them, there being an open space between the upper edges of the said inclined portions, a centrally disposed longitudinal shaft mounted in the said cross supports and a long roller mounted on the shaft and closely fitting the space between the ed es of the aforesaid upwardly extending inc ined portions, between which it is free to turn.

I 5. A conveyer chain formed of sprocket links pivotally connected together, certain of the links carrying long, longitudinally archain.

SAMUEL SHAFER, JR. 

